Laurence the Lion

Height: 13.5″ standing

Skill Level: Intermediate
Ravelry: Laurence the Lion

He may be king of the jungle,

but Laurence is the sweetest
lion you’ll ever meet. His
defining characteristics are his
big brown nose and adorable
scallop mane.

You will need

 3.5mm (E) hook
 15mm safety eyes(buy here)
 Yarn needle
 Fiber fill
Yarn (acrylic, weight 4)
 Yellow(I used RHSS – Cornmeal)
 Cream(I used RHSS – Aran)
 Brown(I used RHSS – Coffee)
 Orange(I used RHSS – Carrot)

Instructions
Head
1. With yellow yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. *sc 3, inc* [30]
06. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]
07. *sc 5, inc* [42]
08. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
09. *sc 7, inc* [54]
10. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
11 – 20. sc in each st around [60]
21. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
22. *sc 7, dec* [48]
23. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
24. *sc 5, dec* [36]
25. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]

Stuff head ¾ full. Decide on placement of eyes, sew between the two spots to sculpt the
head. Insert eyes and secure backings.

26. *sc 3, dec* [24]

Finish stuffing, fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.
Snout
1. With cream yarn:
01. ch5, inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 2, 5sc in the last ch. Continue on the other side of the
chain base, sc 2, 3sc in the last ch [14]
02. inc, sc 4, *inc* 3 times, sc 4, *inc* 2 times [20]
03. inc, sc 6, *inc* 2 times, sc, inc, sc 6, *inc* 2 times, sc [26]
04. inc, sc 8, *inc, sc* 2 times, inc, sc 8, *inc, sc* 2 times [32]
05. inc, sc 10, inc, sc 2, inc, sc, inc, sc 10, inc, sc 2, inc, sc [38]
06 – 07. sc in each st around [38]
08. sc in each st around, dec last 3 st together [36]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stitch to the head ¾ around, leaving a small hole
for stuffing. Stuff with fiber fill and finish stitching the remaining ¼ around.

Nose
1. With brown yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. *sc, inc* [9]
03. *sc 2, inc* [12]
04. *sc 3, inc* [15]
05. *sc 4, inc* [18]

Switch to yellow yarn (tutorial):

06 – 10. sc in each st around [18]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed.

Ears (make 2)
1. With yellow yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. *sc 3, inc* [30]
06. sc in each st around [30]
07. *sc 3, dec* [24]
08. sc, dec, *sc 2, dec* 5 times, sc [18]
09. *sc, dec* [12]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed.

Scallop Mane
1. With orange yarn:
01. ch 57, turn
02. 8 tr in 4th ch from hook, skip 2 st, slst *skip 2 st, 8 tr, slst* [54]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Body
1. With yellow yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
 03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. *sc 3, inc* [30]
06. sc 2, inc, *sc 4, inc* 5 times, sc 2 [36]
07. *sc 5, inc* [42]
08. sc 3, inc, *sc 6, inc* 5 times, sc 3 [48]
09. *sc 7, inc* [54]
10. sc 4, inc, *sc 8, inc* 5 times, sc 4 [60]
11 – 17. sc in each st around [60]
18. sc 4, dec, *sc 8, dec* 5 times, sc 4 [54]
19. sc in each st around [54]
20. *sc 7, dec* [48]
21. sc in each st around [48]
22. sc 3, dec, *sc 6, dec* 5 times, sc 3 [42]
23 – 24. sc in each st around [42]
25. *sc 5, dec* [36]
26 – 27. sc in each st around [36]
28. sc 2, dec, *sc 4, dec* 5 times, sc 2 [30]
29 – 30. sc in each st around [30]
31. *sc 3, dec* [24]

Fasten off. Stuff firmly with fiber fill.

Belly
1. With cream yarn:
01. ch5, inc in 2nd ch from hook, sc 2, 5sc in the last ch. Continue on the other side of the
chain base, sc 2, 3sc in the last ch [14]
02. inc, sc 4, *inc* 3 times, sc 4, *inc* 2 times [20]
03. inc, sc 6, *inc* 2 times, sc, inc, sc 6, *inc* 2 times, sc [26]
04. inc, sc 8, *inc, sc* 2 times, inc, sc 8, *inc, sc* 2 times [32]
05. inc, sc 10, inc, sc 2, inc, sc, inc, sc 10, inc, sc 2, inc, sc [38]
06. inc, sc 12, *inc, sc 2* 2 times, inc, sc 12, *inc, sc 2* 2 times [44]
07. inc, sc 14, inc, sc 3, inc, sc 2, inc, sc 14, inc, sc 3, inc, sc 2 [50]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Arms (make 2)
1. With yellow yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. BLO: sc in each st around [24]
06 – 08. sc in each st around [24]
09. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
10. sc in each st around [23]
11. sc 21, dec [22]
12. sc in each st around [22]
13. sc 10, dec, sc 10 [21]
14. sc in each st around [21]
15. sc 19, dec [20]
16. sc in each st around [20]
17. sc 9, dec, sc 9 [19]
 18. sc in each st around [19]
19. sc 17, dec [18]
20. sc in each st around [18]
21. sc 8, dec, sc 8 [17]
22. sc in each st around [17]
23. sc 15, dec [16]
24 – 25. sc in each st around [16]
26. *sc 2, dec* [12]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill. Fold the top opening in
half and slip stitch closed.

Arm Pads (make 2)

1. With cream yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Legs (make 2)
1. With yellow yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. sc, inc, *sc 2, inc* 5 times, sc [24]
05. *sc 3, inc* [30]
06. BLO: sc in each st around [30]
07 – 09. sc in each st around [30]
10. sc 14, dec, sc 14 [29]
11. sc 27, dec [28]
12. sc 13, dec, sc 13 [27]
13. sc 25, dec [26]
14. sc 12, dec, sc 12 [25]
15. sc 23, dec [24]
16. sc 11, dec, sc 11 [23]
17. sc 21, dec [22]
18. sc 10, dec, sc 10 [21]
19. sc 19, dec [20]
20. sc 9, dec, sc 9 [19]
21. sc 17, dec [18]
22. *sc 7, dec* [16]
23. *sc 2, dec* [12]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Stuff firmly with fiber fill. Fold the top opening in
half and slip stitch closed.

Leg Pads (make 2)

1. With cream yarn:
01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02. inc in each st around [12]
03. *sc, inc* [18]
04. *sc 2, inc* [24]
 Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

Tail
1. Cut 12 strands of orange yarn, approx. 6” long

With yellow yarn:

01. start 6 sc into a magic ring [6]
02 – 08. sc around [6]

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing. Fold the top opening in half and slip stitch closed.
Root in strands of orange yarn to flat end, secure and trim as desired.

Notes
Abbreviations
ch: chain
sc: single crochet
inc: 2sc increase
slst: slip stitch
tr: triple crochet
BLO: back loop only
dec: invisible decrease

Attaching with thread vs. yarn tail

For a cleaner look, I opted to cut a short tail, weave it in, and attach a few of the pieces with
matching thread. I did this with the snout, mane and belly. However, it’s totally up to you and will look
cute either way!

Optional: Skip arm & leg pads

Instead of attaching separate arm and leg pads, you can simply start with cream yarn for rounds 1 –
3 on the arms, and rounds 1 – 4 on the legs, then switch to yellow yarn for the remaining rounds. I
prefer the look of the separate pads, but skipping them is definitely easier. 🙂

How to indent the eyes

Note: The video above shows a fox, but the technique is the same for all of my patterns. My newer
patterns indicate exactly where you should place your safety eyes, and instruct you to mark those
stitches accordingly. This is one of my older patterns and it doesn’t indicate where to place the eyes.
I plan to update my older patterns when I have a chance, but for now use your best judgement. 🙂

Step 1 – Cut a strand of yarn approximately 12″ long. Tie a large, secure knot in one end and thread
the other end through your yarn needle.
Step 2 – Insert your needle through the back opening of the head and sew between the two spots
where you’ll be placing your safety eyes.
Step 3 – Pull your strand of yarn taut, which will create indents.
Step 4 – Fasten off with a knot and hide your yarn tail inside the head.